Chapter 8 | Zoe
Chapter 8
Zoe
My alarm goes off. I groan as I cover my ears with the pillow. Even though I enjoy being in the bakery, it's never fun to wake up early. Maybe I'm in need of a holiday.
It has been a while since Stodax and I decorated the tree, everything's been going well. Christmas is in mere days, business should be picking up, and there's no time for a vacation.
The alarm keeps going. I love and hate companies that manufacture them. This alarm...
"Shut up already!" I shout at it, but it refuses to stop. Worse, it already jumped off my bedside table. Unless I get off the bed to catch it, I can't switch it off. Stupid alarm robot.
I let out a breath, finally sitting up on the bed. It must be Stodax's fault. Since that day we fucked each other, we kept doing that. I yawn, stretching my sore arms. Maybe I should tell him to stop. But it's hard when I see him in the bakery after work is over. I just want to have something to relax. Intense sex probably isn't the answer.
The alarm robot stops screaming at me after it detects me and knows that I'm up. Stupid robot.
I pull out my phone to check the time. It's...
The windows shudder. I glance over to... Is that a snowstorm?
I get off the bed and head over there. It is snowing badly. It was snowing last night, but it wasn't that bad. I heard about a storm coming from a few customers yesterday when they were chatting among themselves, but I didn't pay a lot of attention to that.
According to the observatory, the storm is bad, and they've announced a weather warning, which means suspension of school, regular business activity, and pretty much everything other than essential service.
It's rare for a storm like this to happen. Maybe once every two years or more. I let out a breath, getting back onto the bed. I guess the bakery isn't opening today. No one's going to be there even if I open shop, and it'll just be a waste of ingredients to be making bread and food.
I stretch and pull the blanket, covering my legs. The alarm robot screams again.
"Shut the fuck up! I'm heading back to sleep because there's no work today!"
Except the robot doesn't understand words or is programmed to ignore everything. It remains screaming through the roof.
I get off the bed, finally catching it and slamming the button on it for it to shut up.
There's no work today. I can sleep in for once. It has been... maybe five years since the bakery opened, so I guess it has been that long since I've slept in.
No, that's not right. Every year, I took a rest day after Christmas, so I slept in last year.
Whatever, the weather said there's no work...
Wait...
While I know that there's no work, Stodax doesn't know about that. Till now, he hasn't given me his number, and I'm not even sure whether he has a phone or not.
Now that I think about it, he probably doesn't even drive a spaceship to work.
Oh shit!
I hurry to change out of my pajamas. Knowing his ass, he's going to find his way to the bakery regardless of the storm.
Stupid ricod...
I think I've left him with my number, but he's not the type of guy who will ask whether he can stay home.
Maybe I can try dialing the bakery. Maybe he’s there already and will pick up the call.
I dial with one hand, gathering what I may need with the other.
The call keeps ringing, but no one picks it up. Does this mean he isn’t in the bakery? Or that he is in the storage room and can’t hear it? Or he’s on his way there and not inside already?
Nope, the call drops to the message box without getting picked up. I guess I’m heading to the bakery regardless. Silly Stodax.
It's going to be dumb to be driving my spaceship when the storm is raging, but I have to get to the bakery.
There may have been a prediction of the weather warning yesterday, but everything looked fine, and who had the time to scroll on the phone when we were always busy, and I just needed to collapse after a long day?
The storm is bad outside. I take a breath as I stomp on the gas. This has to be the dumbest idea ever.
Now I'm not sure whether I want to find him in the bakery or not. If he isn't there, I'd hate myself for running out like this.
The wipers are in full force, but it isn't enough to clear the window. If I die from driving in this kind of weather, it's all Stodax's fault.
The spaceship shudders as a strong wave of wind smacks it. Holly fuck... This is almost worse than rides in an amusement park, and I've never been a fan of those.
I've never hated snow this much in my life. I just want a tiny bit of snow to decorate the city for Christmas, not something like this.
At least I'm the only dummy on the road, there isn't a single spaceship in sight. I can't crash into another spaceship when there are no spaceships around. Actually, not much is in sight when the sky is almost pitch dark and the snowstorm is thick.
Maybe it is muscle memory, but it doesn't take long before I locate the bakery. Or, more conveniently, the bakery's the only shop that has lights on. I just know Stodax is going to be there.
The landing is far from smooth, but there's snow everywhere, so it turns out fine. I pull my coat, still not wanting to move myself through the open area when the storm is raging. My spaceship is going to be fine when I can park indoors, but I...
But I have to get to Stodax. He's going to be fine inside the bakery, but...
If he has a single brain cell, he won't be preparing dough for today.
But... Given who he is...
I bundle myself up and hurry out of the spaceship, going as quickly as I can as I trudge through piled-up snow and when even more snow falls on me. I can barely see what's in front of me and try not to bump into a lamppost. A strong wind slaps me, almost knocking me off my heels.
At least the bakery isn't that far away. The lights are right there, just a few more steps away. There's no one crazy enough to be out in the streets when the storm is in full force. Why is Stodax this dumb?
I push the door open, hiding away from the storm. Even though I've wrapped up my face and everything that may be exposed to the storm, I'm freezing. I pat my coat and my scarf, getting the snow off me before I push open the next door, finally making my way into the shop.
Stodax is inside the kitchen, just as I expected...
"Stodax! Why are you here?"
He peeks from the kitchen. "Boss, you're early."
I suck in a breath, trying my best not to scream at him. He drives me crazy; not in a good way. "I mean it. Why are you here? Don't you see the storm?"
"Yeah, I see the storm." He looks out the window. "The storm is still going."
He's such a fucking moron.
"Obviously. I just went through it just to get here."
"I don't see the issue."
I gesture for him to come closer, so I don't have to scream too hard.
He wipes his hands clean before he comes over. "Yes?"
I stand on my tiptoes, grab his horns, and scream at his face. "Are you fucking out of your mind? Why are we even opening under this weather?"
He shudders and winces. "But you didn't tell me not to come here, so..."
I keep my hands on his horns. "Because you've never given me your phone number! And you should have called me and asked, or just looked at the weather report and figured it out!"
He blinks. "I still don't get it. I know there's a storm raging outside, but why does it mean no work for today?"
"Because it is a fucking snowstorm, and no one fucking comes to a bakery when everything in the city is suspended for the day! Why are we making bread when no one will be buying it? We are here to sell stuff, not to make stuff just because."
He remains staring at me, annoying me so much that I want to pull off my hair or pull his horns off. I let go of him. "I know you are a good worker, but you don't have to do this. I'm only here because I know your ass will be here whatever happens outside."
He lowers his gaze. "I'm sorry."
It makes me feel bad for screaming at him when he really seems to be confused about that. I don't understand him the same way he doesn't understand me and how normal beings function.
I sigh. "Look, I just want to make sure everyone's safe. It's not safe to be driving out in the storm."
"It's okay. I didn't drive."
I stare at him. That's not the point, yet...
I've never paid attention to how he comes in and leaves. So... "You... walked here?"
"Yeah, it's just half an hour away."
I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Look, you're just... Put it this way, I appreciate your dedication in putting out good work, but you should be mindful of your own safety."
He spreads his arms to the side. "I'm safe."
He sure got lucky, not that I wish for him to have it bad. "You made me worried."
"And you drove your way here, then you trudged through the snow to get here."
Now that he puts it that way, I'm tired. I head to the chair on the other side of the bakery. "Yeah, I did that. Anyone with a single brain cell should know that we aren't opening, and we aren't making anything today, not until the storm is over."
He follows me. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you take the risk."
"Maybe you should just give me your phone number, then you know to ask me next time you aren't sure. Or for you, let me tell you not to come in for work. I called the bakery, and no one picked it up."
He remains silent as he stands there and watches me.
He's such a nightmare...
I clear my throat. "You do know what a phone is, right?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Don't tell me you don't even have a phone."
He rubs his horns. "Um... About that..."
I lift my hand to stop him. I should have known, otherwise, there was no reason for him to hide his number from me when I was the one hiring him. "We'll get you a phone after the storm is over. I'll buy you one, it's fine."
"I can afford one."
"Then why don't you have one? Even a wonky one that can only make calls?"
He frowns. "I... I didn't think I'd need one. I see you in the bakery every day, and... no one's calling me, and I have no one to call."
Ah... "The bank didn't ask for your phone number? Don't tell me you don't even have an account."
He swallows and looks to the side. "I do, I... scribbled something for them."
"Geez... You can't even take care of yourself, huh? Don't tell me you sleep on the streets."
"Not now."
"So, you used to."
He nods. "Hey, I make myself presentable regardless, it bothered no one."
I suck in a breath. "Why didn't you ask for help?"
"Because I didn't need help."
"Do you even shower?"
"Hey! I do. I always keep myself clean. I shower in the community gym."
Well, I guess as long as he keeps himself clean; I don't get to care about where he cleans himself. "At least you didn't shower in the water fountain in the park."
He snorts a laugh. "Do you think everyone should see my naked body?"
He makes me laugh, but... He's so frustrating at times.
I say, "No, keep that to yourself. But for real?"
"I don't want to talk about that."
"Okay. I get it. Don't feel obligated to tell me." I let out a breath. We'll evaluate that later. I've never run into issues like that before, and when I worked alone, that wasn't an issue.
He watches me for another moment before he asks, "Do you want water? A drink?"
"Give me warm water, thanks." I'd want a coffee, but I'm too tired to move. I don't think he knows how to use the machine either. The longer I spend on the chair, the more exhausted I am. Maybe he's the reason I'm tired and it's not even the snowstorm's fault.
"Sure." He heads to the kitchen, moving his blue ass away from my vision, which eases my headache. Sometimes, I don't even know whether I should laugh at him or be mad at him.
I close my eyes and lean back on the chair, ignoring the rattling windows. When will the storm be over?
It doesn't look like I should head home when the storm is raging. I force my eyes open, even though I'm falling asleep. It is still snowing, without a doubt. The storm looks even worse than when I rushed out of the door. I let out a breath when Stodax comes back.
He sets a mug on the table. "So... hot chocolate?"
Ah, this is unexpected. "Thank you."
"With milk."
"That's nice."
"I hope I didn't mess it up."
"Why would you mess it up?"
"Because... I've never tried something like this before, so I don't know whether I have it right."
I take a sip. It is thicker than I expected.
Yeah, he has no idea how much chocolate powder he should add other than that he should put some into it. But it's not that bad. It has to be challenging to mess up the whole thing anyway.
The thick chocolate is warm, almost hot, which reminds me of my coat. I take it off and put it on the back of the chair. Now, my body's a lot lighter. "Why don't you make one for yourself too? There won't be work today and I'm not letting you walk out of the door before the storm is over."
"I can get one?"
"Yes. Or do you want a coffee? I think we are snowed into the bakery now."
"Snowed what?" He looks at the ceiling. "Is the storm going to break in?"
I shake my head. I'm not in the mood to talk and explain everything to him. "Just get your drink and relax."
"Okay, thank you, boss." He heads to the kitchen, seemingly happy.
I turn the chair so I can be staring at the Christmas tree. Other than for business reasons and for what I could be earning if the weather was good, I wish more beings could enjoy the tree. But if the storm lasts... that'll be a bit too much snow for the holiday. The Christmas cakes I could be selling...
I let out a breath. Maybe it's fate. Maybe the universe thinks that I should take a break once in a while, and thus the weather makes business stop. yet, I'm here in the bakery, regardless.
Stodax is at the kitchen door, peeking at me with a mug in his hand.
I ask, "What are you doing there?"
He lifts his mug. "Taking a sip."
I narrow my eyes at him. "No, you're peeking."
"No, I'm not."
I glare at him. "You aren't fooling anyone."
"I just want to make sure you aren't mad at me."
"How much dough have you made?"
"Not a lot. I meant to wait for you and ask."
I hope he's honest about that. I don't want to head over and check. My legs are still tired from making my way through the storm even though it's just a brief walk. While Stodax is a bigger being, I can't imagine walking half an hour to make it here. He's just crazy about showing up for work.
I pat the chair next to me. "Take a seat. it's going to be a long day with nothing to do." The sky is still gloomy. The storm isn't going to be over any time soon.
He sits on the chair next to me, still seemingly tense.
I shrug. "Just relax, okay? You're making me anxious."
"Sorry." He takes a sip of his drink. "I hope everything will be fine soon."
"Yeah... There's nothing here. All we got is each other."
He stares at me.
I shrug. "What? You know that's the case."
He stares at his mug instead. "I guess."
Huh? Maybe he's thinking about something else. "So, we have all the time in the day with nothing to do. And you hate small talk."
"No, I don't hate... Well, I mean, I don't mind if I don't have to talk a lot."
"You don't have to try to please me past being polite."
He says nothing, his mind seemingly wonders. I don't understand him and today's not the day I want to figure him out. "I'm tired. I'll take a nap on the couch. Don't wake me unless something urgent happens."
"Okay."
I head to the side. Maybe I should have collapsed over there sooner.
"Boss."
"Yes?" I guess it doesn't apply when I haven't fallen asleep.
"Do you want to turn the lights off so you can sleep better?"
Ah, he's thoughtful at times. "Sounds good, thanks."
The couch is far from comfortable, but I'll deal with it.
The storm... Stodax...